<p>Shopping on the NFL free agent market can be so very tempting. </p>
<p>Talented and experienced linemen, pass rushers, wide receivers and cornerbacks available to fill a hole in the roster. That new starter can be yours with a big enough check. Just be sure to add enough zeros. </p>
<p>Being available in free agency does not guarantee sure-fire production. </p>
<p>Just ask the Tennessee Titans.</p>
<p>The Titans need only think back a few months to remember the need to spend smartly after busting on not one but two free agents. </p>
<p>They shelled out more than $21 million combined on Vic Beasley and Jadeveon Clowney. Signed to boost a struggling pass rush, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-brett-kern-tennessee-titans-football-beau-brinkley-8af4dee83f24c33e64d934ae20e35e88">Tennessee cut Beasley</a> after three tackles in five games while <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-chicago-bears-tennessee-titans-football-tennessee-17c3a47801629325cb1a8385fe3b6f94">Clowney went on injured reserve</a> after eight.</p>
<p>Not a single sack combined between the two. </p>
<p>“It’s important that this offseason that we learn, that I learn personally from last year, that we try to improve,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said. </p>
<p>Busting on free agents doesn’t stop any NFL team from trying again. </p>
<p>“We’re looking for those kinds of players, willing to invest resources,” Robinson said. </p>
<p>For every Tom Brady signed, there’s plenty of busts every free agency period. Someone who simply doesn’t meet the expectations that come along with his big paycheck or proves a bad fit with the new team. And the bigger checks of free agency make those mistakes even more costly. </p>
<p>CAM NEWTON</p>
<p>Brady celebrated his first season with his new team with the Lombardi Trophy in Tampa Bay. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ed0657530abaa336db7348229f418827">Newton tried to replace Brady in New England</a> in a season where the coronavirus pandemic not only slowed his development in the offense but also cost him two weeks with COVID-19 early in the season. </p>
<p>Newton struggled in the passing game much of the season with little help. Julian Edelman was never fully healthy before going on injured reserve. Newton wound up one-dimensional and couldn’t cover all the Patriots’ holes. That didn’t stop the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-tampa-bay-buccaneers-new-england-patriots-football-coronavirus-pandemic-919eb78537ffb54e389cfbb78ddfe5f6">Patriots from working to keep Newton</a> on another one-year deal. </p>
<p>TRADE BUSTS</p>
<p>Sometimes the busts aren’t free agents but trade acquisitions, which can be even worse.</p>
<p>The Denver Broncos recently jettisoned <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-john-elway-denver-broncos-tennessee-titans-football-4d0d6612a30ec82bcb429dde0cbe5cba">Jurrell Casey</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-denver-broncos-football-denver-aj-bouye-c35e9906bbab142438bdf721f857263e">A.J. Bouye</a>, two veterans they traded for a year ago only to see the deals quickly blow up in their faces.</p>
<p>The Broncos thought they had a steal when they sent a seventh-rounder to Tennessee for Casey, but the five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman tore a biceps in Week 3, ending his season.</p>
<p>Denver sent a fourth-round pick to Jacksonville for Bouye, but he played in just seven games because of shoulder and head injuries and a suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancers. </p>
<p>The Broncos cut both last month, freeing up about $24 million in salary cap room.</p>
<p>CORY LITTLETON</p>
<p>The Raiders thought they were getting a difference-maker when they <a href="https://apnews.com/article/0d843f58cb04e47f608245cde5e065ed">signed linebacker Cory Littleton to a three-year, $35.25 million deal.</a> He never came close to that in 14 games played last season. He didn’t have a single sack, force a fumble or recover a fumble. </p>
<p>Raiders coach Jon Gruden pegged defensive tackle Maliek Collins as a defensive key, yet Collins also finished without a sack or tackle for loss. But Las Vegas only signed Collins to a one-year deal for $6 million limiting the bust factor. </p>
<p>BRESHAD PERRIMAN</p>
<p>The Jets tried to protect themselves giving the wide receiver a one-year deal worth $8 million to prove himself as a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fe8e0e6027d16f2d11d8aef19747ddf5">replacement for Robby Anderson</a> who took a two-year deal with Carolina worth up to $20 million. </p>
<p>Perriman wound up with dealing with injuries including a hamstring, sprained ankle, a concussion and a shoulder. Combined with a struggling offense that rarely attacked downfield, Perriman was both ineffective with his new team and used inadequately. </p>
<p>STEPHEN WEATHERLY</p>
<p>Weatherly was a major bust for the Carolina Panthers after the defensive end signed a two-year, $12 million deal last offseason. Weatherly didn’t get a single sack in nine games and had only one tackle for loss with three total hits on a quarterback. </p>
<p>The Panthers cut their losses in February, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-charlotte-carolina-panthers-football-stephen-weatherly-51047b5c4c37e73485cff51ea027cdc1">releasing Weatherly</a> to clear some salary cap space. Weatherly returned to the team that drafted him in Minnesota but at a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-carolina-panthers-minnesota-vikings-football-stephen-weatherly-f11a531e232a30e1aefd553b5935e957">much cheaper deal</a>: one year for $2.5 million. </p>
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<p>AP Pro Football Writers Arnie Stapleton, Josh Dubow and Dennis Waszak and AP Sports Writers Steve Reed and Kyle Hightower contributed to this report. </p>
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<p>Follow Teresa M. Walker at <a href="https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker">https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker</a></p>
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